United Nations Career Journey Podcast

Maria Chepurina-Deswel, External Relations Officer, Executive Office of the Secretary-General, New York “It’s a little bit like working in a startup mode where every week, every month, there is a new project with new objectives, new priorities.” Maria shares about her once-in-a-lifetime role in building partnerships for the United Nations to drive its agenda and values. Also hear her insider’s perspective on one of the most high-profile offices in the United Nations System. Tune in today! Read the full transcript here!

“Life sometimes has a way of pulling a 180-degree maneuver on you. After years of flying [in the Serbian military], I realized that my purpose could be even bigger than the cockpit.” Hear from Slavisa Vidakovic, a UN aviation expert in field missions who now oversees hundreds of operations staff at the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq. He has seen plenty of violence and destruction – and it has only solidified his belief in the United Nations. Need some positivity and wisdom? Tune in now! Read the full transcript here.

"Evaluation was not a career option when I started; there were no courses, no guidance. I had to teach myself. But today, evaluation is key—not just for accountability, but for learning. It’s about showing what works, what doesn’t, and why.” Meet Ana Rosa Soares, Senior Strategic Advisor and Strategic Plan Chief Evaluator at the Independent Evaluation Office, UNDP. With nearly two decades at the UNDP, Ana Rosa has navigated the challenges of cultural biases, carved a path as a minority woman in leadership, and developed groundbreaking evaluation methodologies. From her early days in monitoring and development to evaluating UNDP's Strategic Plans, Ana Rosa shares insights on resilience, the importance of adaptability, and how evaluation drives impactful change. Read the full transcript here.

“The experience of being in the Congo – an amazing country - remains the most amazing professional experience of my life. I was responsible for tasking 105 aircraft on a daily basis for about nine months and I've never had anything more intense in that sense in my life.” Hear from Stephen McOwan, who has served at UN peacekeeping missions across Africa and Asia, and now supports them from New York headquarters. A natural storyteller, Stephen shares some of his most memorable UN experiences and about his deep pride in the UN’s purpose. Considering a job in the field? Tune in now! Read the full transcript here.

"The UN targets to achieve about 18% of persons with disability employment. It’s so sad. Most of our brothers and sisters with disabilities, they don’t apply. [...] Always try to remember opportunities are not given, they are grabbed. If you don’t grab that opportunity, then we’ll be lost... Just show your ability and remove the dis in your ability." Meet Ashura Michael, Talent Development and Inclusion Associate at UNDP Kenya. Prior to her role in the UN, Ashura practiced law, was a social justice activist, worked with a variety of disability associations, as well as the government of Kenya. Ashura's fascinating career journey leads us to now, where she continues to advocate for social justice and disability inclusion. Read the full transcript here. Find the video to this episode here.

"I am humbled and grateful to have had the support of my family and the cooperation of my colleagues, who played a crucial role in helping me navigate and overcome such challenges. Ultimately, these experiences have taught me that while challenges are inevitable, they also bring growth and new opportunities. Embracing change and maintaining a positive outlook has been key to overcoming the obstacles along my career path." Meet Syed-Ali Raza, Management Analyst of BMS, Office of Human Resources at UNDP Copenhagen. Prior to his role in UN, he worked with local NGOs in his hometown of Rahim Yar Khan, Pakistan. After some time working back home, in 2013 he moved on to his first job with the UN in the Islamabad country office as an internal auditor. After relocating to Fiji, and now Copenhagen, Ali reflects on his support systems and provides advice on how listeners can stay on top of this competitive job market. Listen to the full episode and find the transcript here.

“I had an opportunity for a promotion in New York, but I said to myself, it will be even harder to leave later. So we packed up and moved to Bangkok. That was eight years ago. We never looked back and it has been a fascinating experience.” Meet Milica Markovic, a seasoned HR professional at the UN Secretariat who is based in Thailand with her young family. As Regional HR Focal Point for the Development Coordination Office, she supports Resident Coordinators and their teams across three continents. Before that she had trailblazing roles in creating a flagship mentoring programme and in using AI to speed HR processes. She also shares about navigating laterally and upwards in our large organization. Tune in and gain some inspiration! Listen to the full episode and find the transcript here.

“The organisation has changed quite a bit in terms of its digital transformation.[..] And what is interesting about it is that, digital transformation never ends. Technology continuously develops. And that's true for any organisation and every human being in a way. We always have to learn new skills” Tune in to hear from Dhani Spiller, Head of the Digital Capacity Building, in the Chief Digital Office at UNDP as he shares his insights and experience in driving digital transformation within the organization. Dhani discusses how digital innovation has become pivotal in shaping the organization’s evolution, and highlights the impactful work led by the Chief Digital Office in this important area. He reflects on the complexities of bringing change and innovation in such big organizations, emphasizing that while the results may not always be immediate or global, focusing on the people around you—your team and colleagues—can lead to meaningful impact, and, as in a mathematical logic, gradually expand and multiplies into a larger scale. Finally, the importance of breaking silos, fostering collaboration, and creating a “place of learning and knowledge” within the organization to drive innovation and positive change, are points discussed by Dhani in this episode. Listen to the full episode and read the transcript here.

Nous avons le plaisir d'entendre Amélie -Yann Gouiffès, experte en réduction des risques de catastrophe et en relèvement post-crise. Amélie partage son parcours de plus de 26 ans dans l'humanitaire et le développement, avec une quinzaine d'années de missions pour les Nations Unies. Elle explique comment elle a débuté sa carrière aux Nations Unies par un concours de circonstances, en commençant par le PNUD (Programme des Nations Unies pour le Développement) en Inde lors d'inondations massives. Elle est ensuite devenue experte en relèvement post-crise et en réduction des risques de catastrophe, un domaine qu'elle a vu évoluer au fil du temps. Amélie souligne l'importance de comprendre son « pourquoi » afin de rester motivée et de persévérer dans un domaine aussi exigeant. Elle insiste sur l'importance du développement personnel et de la santé mentale, partageant ses propres pratiques de soins personnels pour se ressourcer après des missions intenses. Enfin, elle aborde le concept de « nexus », qui vise à mieux harmoniser le travail humanitaire et le travail de développement, et parle de son rôle actuel en tant que consultante auprès du Bureau de crise du PNUD. Ecoutez l'épisode complet et retrouvez la transcription ici.

“This is a work environment where you get to meet people from all around the world. And you get these bits of wisdom…but we have to consciously choose to hold on to them and make them parts of ourselves…” Hear from the passionate and multi-dimensional Peride Kaleagasi, a seasoned UN expert and currently Head of Office in the Resident Coordinator’s Office in Guatemala. She shares about development coordination, gender parity in the UN, her participation in reforming the UN values and behaviors - and the process of writing two books! Tune in and absorb some of her infectious energy and passion for her career. Listen to the full episode and find the transcript here.

David Bearfield | Director of the Office of Human Resources UNDP, New York ; Catharina Klingspor | Special assistant to Deputy Bureau Director of Bureau of External Relations and Advocacy, UNDP, New York,Former JPO; Rayza Oblitas Palacios | Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Specialist, UNDP Regional Office in Istanbul, Alumna of UNDP Graduate Programme; Ghadir Elidrissi Raghni | Technical Advisor GIZ Morocco, Alumna of African Young Women Leadership Fellowship. “Why is the young talent Agenda important to UNDP?” “I mean, the blindingly obvious – young people are the future. And we are trying to solve problems that future generations are going to have to grapple with. So I think it is absolutely vital that the organization includes people who bring that fresh perspective. [..] Yes, we need experience and expertise that you build up over time. But you also need fresh perspectives and people to challenge the way that we've always done things.” Tune in for a special episode celebrating the 5th anniversary of the UNDP People for 2030 Strategy, UNDP’s first ever People’s Strategy which has been spearheading a transformation of UNDP's culture enhancing young talents engagement and promoting diversity and inclusion. In this episode, moderated by Jean Luc Marcelin, we hear from David Bearfield, Director of the Office of Human Resources at UNDP. David will share key insights on the People for 2030 Strategy, particularly its dedication to involving young talent and fostering diversity and inclusion, crucial for building the next generation of leaders in the development sector. We'll also feature inspiring stories from Catharina, Rayza, and Ghadir, Alumni of three different Young Talent Programmes. They will discuss how these opportunities helped them join UNDP and the broader UN system, accelerating their career growth both within and outside the organization. Don’t miss this chance to learn about the Junior Professional Officer Programme (JPO), the UNDP Graduate Programme, and the African Young Women Leaders Fellowship (AYWLF). Our guest speakers will provide valuable tips and guidance on how to apply for these programmes. Listen to the episode and find the full transcription here!

“Working in the mission you see the direct impact of whatever work you are doing, whatever sacrifices you are making, and the decisions you are taking [...] as it is showing in the lives of the people.” UN veteran Ben Dotsei Malor, after concluding his eighteen-month stint as the Chief of Communications and Public Information at the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), shares about the importance of peacekeeping and how information and communication are critical for peace and development. Amid our deeply troubling global landscape, you will be truly inspired by Ben’s passion for the United Nations and the hope he retains, given the positive changes he has seen. Listen to the episode and find the full transcription here!

"Life is about different chapters. I think this idea of a linear career is a little old-fashioned. There were things I wanted to learn to bring with me to the next step of my journey". In this podcast episode, we explore the inspiring journey of Linnea Van Wagenen – from her career at the United Nations to becoming the Head of Strategic and Sustainable Development at Ljusdal Municipality in Sweden. Linnea's unique experiences, such as working in Sierra Leone during a major landslide and her efforts in localizing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a small Swedish town, demonstrate her commitment to global and local development. Listen to the full episode and find the ⁠full transcription⁠.

“I'm most proud of the fact this is the one truly global institution that has weathered some really serious challenges and still provides a forum for people to come together to talk, to listen and to negotiate” says Salvator Cusimano, a Coordination Officer in the Department of Peace Operations. Tune in and hear from this inspiring young professional who has served in the Central African Republic, Yemen, Malta, and New York. Find the transcript here.

Join us in this episode as Anna Chernyshova, Deputy Resident Representative at UNDP Georgia takes us through her diverse and dynamic career journey with the United Nations. With experience from Belarus to Kyrgyzstan, Fiji, and Georgia, Anna shares captivating stories of working on various programs in different cultural settings. Along her journey, Anna has garnered valuable lessons, which she eagerly shares with those aspiring to start a career at the UN. Reflecting on a moment that deeply impacted her, Anna recalls, "I will never forget how he came to my office with a small book of the UN Charter and asked me to put my right hand on it. It was a symbolic gesture, but it meant a lot to me. It was my oath of office to the UN." Listen to the full episode and find the transcription here!

Découvrez le parcours fascinant d’Ezéchiel, qui a passé son enfance au Tchad, puis ses études supérieures en France avant de traverser l’Atlantique pour New York et un stage aux Nations Unies. Un jeune homme optimiste et déterminé à devenir “un médecin de la société” au service de ce qu’il nomme, “un grand hôpital” que sont les Nations Unies. Un parcours unique et inspirant aspirant à un monde meilleur. Écoutez l’épisode en entier que vous pouvez aussi retrouver entièrement retranscrit ici !

Welcome to the first Chinese episode of the UN Career Journey Podcast! In this special episode, we interview our colleague who works at the United Nations World Food Programme. Yingying Geng is a Campaign Coordinator at WFP in Rome. She shares her career journey and experience with us, from graduating from her master's to working at the United Nations. Stay tuned and listen to the episode! “…the views, experiences, and opinions expressed herein belong exclusively to the interviewee and do not necessarily represent those of public or private entities with which they are or have been affiliated.” 本播客所表达的观点、经验和意见仅属于受访者本人，并不一定反映其所属或曾经所属的公共或私营实体的观点、经验和意见

Quand on a demandé à Marie quelques conseils à propos de son expérience à l’ONU, elle nous a répondus qu’il fallait se laisser vivre ce genre d’expériences parce que ce sont des opportunités qui restent et marquent pour toujours. Entre les différentes rencontres, opportunités internes, l’apprentissage constant, Marie nous décrit cette expérience comme étant “unique”. Écoutez l’épisode en entier que vous pouvez aussi retrouver entièrement retranscrit ici !

“My job as an interpreter is to deliver messages. I am not here to transpose words and to be able to put one word with its equivalent in different languages” says Prisca Chaoui, Arabic Interpreter at the UN Office at Geneva. Tune in and hear from this UN veteran on the rewards and challenges of her fascinating career in language interpretation! Listen to the full episode and find the transcript here!

"I never shy away from challenges. I've learned from experience that these challenges make you grow, and make you grow faster." Join us in this episode as Tomoki Matsuura, Programme Specialist at UNDP in Senegal, shares his valuable insights on international development and what it takes to succeed in this field. Tomoki emphasizes the importance of gaining trust, continuous learning, and embracing challenges in the workplace. He also opens up about his journey towards achieving a better work-life balance and offers practical tips on stress management and self-awareness. Listen to the full episode and find the full transcription.